About the job
Title: Research Greenhouse Technician (seniority based on experience)
Location: Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, UK
Presence: In-person
Start date: ASAP, Full-time
About Concert Bio
Concert Bio (concert.bio) is a venture-backed, early-stage start-up using microbiome science to help growers harness their plant microbes. We combine DNA sequencing with greenhouse trials to help industry-leading growers monitor their microbial communities. We then use that data to develop beneficial microbes they can use in their systems. You’ll join our passionate, supportive team at an early stage to play a key role in running our research greenhouse facilities at the University of Warwick Innovation Campus, while taking an active part in our company culture.
Role
Before sending our microbes to growers for commercial use, we trial all of them in our own greenhouse. These trials are at the cutting edge of our work and ensure we’re creating excellent products for growers. Our research greenhouse a 1,200 m2 facility at the University of Warwick’s Stratford-upon-Avon Innovation Campus. We’re now running both lettuce and vine crop (particularly tomato) trials. You’ll work day-to-day with our greenhouse manager Oliver Baker, who runs the facility, and collaborate closely with our scientific team in London. Your work will involve the day-to-day management of trials within the greenhouse. You’ll be responsible for crop-care tasks like sowing, stringing and harvesting, and keeping plants healthy by conducting good IPM. You will also ensure trial-related tasks like sample and data collection are completed accurately and on schedule.
We’ve launched our first leafy green product, Overture®, and are fine-tuning products for tomatoes and cucumbers, with other crops in the pipeline. Your work will directly support product development by helping us run high-quality trials and build a clear understanding of how growers can apply our products in their systems. There will also be opportunities for you to visit customer sites to help them implement our microbes.
Responsibilities
- You will manage all day-to-day tasks required to keep our plants healthy and correctly managed to maintain industry standards, ensuring that all trials we run are directly comparable to how growers around the world conduct trials. Your initial focus will be our vine crops, but we expect the role to grow and encompass our leafy green trials in the future as well.
- Alongside the research greenhouse manager, you will make sure everything runs smoothly and all practical work is carried out in a timely and appropriate manner.
- You will oversee the PRIVA greenhouse control system to make sure that the environmental conditions are at the correct levels for an optimised crop. This will include managing the irrigation room, ensuring that the fertiliser tanks are always full and that adequate stock is in place.
- You will take an active role in disease and pest monitoring, and necessary IPM application and ordering.
- You will liaise with our agronomist to make sure all plants are healthy and properly managed. This will include fortnightly videos of the crop and subsequent meetings to adjust the PRIVA setting and strategies to maintain a healthy crop.
- You will liaise with the London lab team to procure everything required for the greenhouse’s microbial treatment, sampling, and practical needs.
- Trial management skills will be required. Once a trial plan is in place, it will be your responsibility to make sure it is followed and all work is completed accordingly.
- You will be responsible for ensuring all relevant data collection is taken. Some data analysis will be required.
- You will report to the research greenhouse manager, who will assist you in managing everything and will step in to help with practical work when required. You will discuss trial plans, improvements and changes. Strong communication is a must here.
Need to have
- Eagerness to push yourself and expand your abilities, both professionally and personally.
- Practical understanding and ability to manage high-wire vine crops.
- Ability to independently oversee greenhouse maintenance and growing.
- Willingness to develop and maintain effective relationships with customers, suppliers and other industry professionals.
- Ability to travel occasionally to our head office and labs in London (White City).
- A love for working in a high-speed, low-control environment where you have high ownership.
- Strong communication skills, time management, and a proactive mindset.
Nice to have
- One to three years of crop management experience within CEA (greenhouses).
- Experience producing reports about scientific experiments such as crop trials, including data analysis capabilities with tools like R or Excel. Ideally, practical knowledge of statistical testing.
- Experience growing a range of additional crops, including lettuce, other leafy greens, cucumbers, peppers or strawberries.
- A strong understanding of CEA environmental management systems, ideally PRIVA.
- Experience running crop trials, and/or experience with plant growth promoting microbials.
- A valid driving license, as the site is not easily accessible by public transport.
The ideal candidate for this role is early in their career, with some greenhouse experience. Ideally, having worked within a commercial or research greenhouse, looking after horticultural crops.
(α-)Diversity at Concert Bio
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everybody belongs, and every great idea is heard. Concert Bio is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.
Come do the best work of your life with us at Concert Bio.
Note to applicants:
We’re interested in hearing about your own thinking and experiences. Applications that clearly rely on AI-generated responses will be rejected.
Note to recruiters:
We do not require external assistance in filling this role and will not respond to candidates put forward speculatively by agencies or third parties. We operate a PSL and our existing partners will be contacted if we require support.
🌱 Join the AgricareerHub WhatsApp Community!
Stay connected with job updates, career tips, and agriculture industry insights directly on your phone.
Our WhatsApp community is the fastest way to get:
📢 UAE & International Agriculture Job Alerts
📚 Career Guidance & Skill Development Tips
🌍 Industry News & Opportunities
🎯 Internship & Project Leads
📲 Join Now:
WhatsApp Community Link 1: Click Here to Join
Let’s grow your agriculture career — together! 🌾
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is for general informational and educational purposes only. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date content, AgriCareerHub does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of any information. Any action you take based on the content of this blog is strictly at your own risk. AgriCareerHub and its authors are not responsible for any losses, damages, or consequences resulting from the use of this information. The featured image used in this blog post is for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the exact job role, company, or work environment mentioned.